I have maintained a community garden on two small city owned lots near the corner of 1st Avenue and 6th Street SW for the past 4 years, freely sharing it with anyone. There are more than 90 kinds of vegetables in this garden that feeds people in our community.  The city is refusing to let me grow a garden here in 2015.

Since I started the garden the city has not had to do anything with the land.  When the city was maintaining the land it was overgrown with weeds.There are no plans for the land.  There are no buyers for the land. When I inquired about leasing or buying the land I was told flat out, "no".

Now the city plans to grow weeds on the land in 2015. The only entity that I know of interested in the land is the city's own non-profit developer, Neighborhood Development Corporation, who won't build without acquiring more parcels on the corner.

The city claims that no properties will be re-purposed for any other use except infill housing until all of the existing programs have run their course. However Matthew 25 currently gardens on at least two properties that are suitable for infill housing, selling the vegetables they grow.

Tell the City of Cedar Rapids to stop discriminating against me and let me grow a garden in 2015.